Network device

Abstract

In this disclosure, we have the following examples and teachings: (1) Integrating the NID functionality in to the small foot-print of an SFP Module, with one or more of the features below: a) Mounting a NID SoC IC to an existing SFP Printed Circuit Board (PCB); b) Using the power from the SFP module, without requiring separate external power; c) NID SoC having only 2 ports, each with its own MAC and possibly PHY layer; d) NID SoC having an embedded microprocessor, RAM and ROM; e) Running a Web portal or other remote login and management software on the NID SoC; f) Miniaturizing the NID to make it cheaper, with reduced cost of inventory, shipment, and installation; and/or g) Supporting one or more (multiple) of the following functions in NID SoC: OAM, Media conversion, Rate adaptation, Policing & marking, Shaping, SLA performance monitoring, Statistics collection, Header manipulation, Security, and/or In-band management. (2) Building the NID functionality in a Dongle that hangs off an Electrical Ethernet port that supports POE (Power over Ethernet), with one or more of the features below: a) Similar to SFP-NID, but hanging off an Electrical Ethernet port; and/or b) Using the power from the Ethernet port POE, without requiring separate external power.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A network demarcation device, said network demarcation device comprising:
 a network demarcation module on a system-on-chip circuit; 
 a short form factor pluggable optical module; 
 wherein said network demarcation module is mounted to said short form factor pluggable optical module's circuit board; 
 wherein electrical power for said network demarcation module is provided by said short form factor pluggable optical module, without having a separate external power supply; 
 wherein said network demarcation module comprises at least two ports, with at least one of said at least two ports having its own media access control and physical layers; 
 wherein a management function module, comprising a management software, is operated on said network demarcation module; 
 said management function module supports all following functions:
 a) operation, administration, and management function, 
 b) media conversion function, 
 c) service level agreement performance monitoring function, 
 d) statistical data collection function, and 
 e) in-band management function, to manage from a remote location; 
 
 wherein said in-band management function is configured via a simple network management protocol or a network management system interface; 
 wherein said network demarcation device is located between a service provider and a customer equipment; 
 wherein said service provider directly monitors, manages, or checks a status and health of connections and services for said customer equipment through said network demarcation device. 
 
     
     
       2. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said network demarcation device comprises a processor. 
     
     
       3. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said network demarcation device comprises a random-access memory. 
     
     
       4. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said network demarcation device comprises a read-only memory. 
     
     
       5. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said management function module supports rate adaptation function. 
     
     
       6. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said management function module supports policing-and-marking function. 
     
     
       7. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said management function module supports shaping function. 
     
     
       8. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said management function module supports header manipulation function. 
     
     
       9. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said management function module supports security function. 
     
     
       10. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a serializer-deserializer module integrated circuit. 
     
     
       11. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a dongle. 
     
     
       12. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a power-over-Ethernet module. 
     
     
       13. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said customer equipment comprises a router or a switch. 
     
     
       14. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a laser driver. 
     
     
       15. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises an amplifier. 
     
     
       16. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a protocol integrated circuit. 
     
     
       17. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises an optical Ethernet port. 
     
     
       18. The network demarcation device as recited in  claim 1 , said network demarcation device comprises a laser diode.